Practical Ideas and Strategies

If your school is considering or
has already moved to a block
schedule and you are searching
for practical strategies and
activities to make the most
effective use of extended class
periods, this is a seminar you
won’t want to miss.

In this unique seminar,
experienced secondary teacher Dave Vawter, one of the nation’s
leading trainers on block schedule
teaching strategies, will present
the key elements of creating an
effective block schedule program.

The primary focus of this
seminar is in the area most
schools have found the greatest
challenge – how to make the
most effective use of extended
periods of instructional time,
not on the theory rationale of
block schedules. The seminar
will also include classroom
management techniques that
keep secondary level students on
task and productively engaged
beyond the traditional 45-50
minute class period. Throughout
the day, Dave will share proven
instructional strategies that are
ideal for use in grades 6-12
extended class periods.

All educators working with
students in grades 6-12 who are
seeking practical strategies and
insights for maximizing block
schedule classes will benefit
from this exceptional seminar.
This seminar is appropriate for
educators who are moving to a
block schedule, as well as those
who are seeking to enhance
instruction in an existing
block classroom.

Ten Key Benefits of Attending

How to Maximize Student learning in Extended
class Periods
Learn proven strategies for making the most effective use of time
in longer class periods . . . A variety of practical strategies you can
use immediately

Implement an Effective Block Schedule classroom
— know Your options
Learn what other successful schools are doing to make a block
schedule meet their needs and the resources available to help you
make scheduling decisions

Increase Your Repertoire of Instructional Strategies
to Meet the Needs of a Block Schedule
Improve your instruction through a variety of practical teaching
strategies which enhance student engagement, problem solving,
cooperation, and communication

Practical Strategies for Effective Classroom
Management In extended class Periods
Learn specific strategies for keeping all students on task and
meaningfully engaged during longer blocks of instructional time

The Key Components of a Successful Block
Schedule Program
Learn what all teachers need to know as they implement a new
block schedule format or strive to enhance an existing one

Designing Effective Lessons for Extended class Periods
Planning effective lessons for longer class periods does not mean
just more of the same . . . Learn practical tips and techniques for
planning lessons that will help you get the most out of longer
class periods

Use Extended Class Periods to Increase Higher-Order
Thinking Skills
Learn practical strategies for designing lessons that move students to
more in-depth, higher-order thinking

Receive an Extensive Block Schedule Resource
Handbook
Your resource handbook not only will guide your learning during the
seminar, but also will provide extensive resources you can implement
immediately in your own program

Outstanding Strategies You Can Use Immediately

Specific instructional techniques that help keep students
involved and actively learning – all especially appropriate for block
schedule classes

An overview of a variety of block schedule formats currently
used by successful block programs – the pros and cons of different
block schedules

Over 50 different teaching strategies categorized into areas that
best fit different aspects of a successful block class

What a successful block class looks like – practical tips from
effective block teachers throughout the country

Innovative strategies to maximize learning in block schedule classes

Effective instruction in a block schedule class — what it is, what
it is not

How to establish a brain-compatible learning environment essential
for effective block teaching

How to effectively move students into and out of activities without losing academic learning time

The three essentials every class should have every day

Five different cooperative learning strategies that can be used
in more than fifteen different ways

How to adapt successful leadership and business techniques in a block schedule class

How to make better use of the inquiry method to enhance
student attention, reading, viewing, and thinking skills

Specific strategies that allow you to efficiently survey the entire
class and ensure accountability of all students

The secret to effective student management and motivation in the
block classroom

A proven model for planning a highly effective 90-minute lesson

How to incorporate the essential attributes of an effective
block lesson

A Message From Your Seminar Leader

Dear Colleague:

I remember well the day when my principal informed our faculty
that we would be moving to a block schedule format. As a faculty,
we wondered, “What do we do in 90-minute class periods?”

In the succeeding years I wrestled with that question on a daily
basis in planning and analyzing what worked and what didn’t
in the block schedule classes I taught. During the past several
years, I have had the opportunity to work with thousands of
teachers throughout North America who are in differing phases
of implementing block schedule classes, yet who are still seeking
practical instructional ideas for answering this same question
– What can we do in extended class periods?

It is with this need in mind that I have specifically created this
seminar. I will be taking a very practical approach as we spend the
majority of our day together experiencing and learning how to
best utilize a wide variety of instructional strategies, projects and
activities that help to make the best use of time in extended class
periods. We will look at specific instructional strategies to build
student engagement and motivation as well as strategies that help
to build cooperation, communication, higher-order thinking and
content reading skills. Every strategy I share with you has been
proven effective in successful block schedule classes. My goal is to
share with you a wide variety of strategies you will be able to use
immediately in your own block schedule classes.

I look forward to our day together and sharing strategies that will
renew your vigor and enthusiasm for teaching.

Sincerely,

David Vawter

P. S. Again, the focus in this seminar is on practical
applications — You’ll receive many ideas you will be able to
use immediately in your own block classes.

Who Should Attend

Special Benefits of Attending

Extensive Resource Handbook
Each participant will receive the extensive
resource handbook, Practical Teaching Strategies
for Block Schedule Classes (Grades 6-12),
specifically designed for this seminar. Included
in the handbook are:

sample block lesson planning guides

more than 50 teaching strategies ideal for
block scheduling classes

an organization and note-taking guide to
enhance retention of seminar topics

resource information and a bibliography
of the most useful resources for block schedule
teachers

hands-on activities and teaching strategies that can be used immediately
in block classes

a summary of current research on block scheduling

Sample Block Schedule Materials:Included in the handbook is a variety of copyready forms and sample
schedules you'll be able to use immediately. You will also receive
information on how to access a unique Web site specifically devoted to
the topic of block scheduling.

Consultation Available
David Vawter will be available at the seminar for consultation regarding
your questions about the unique needs of your own block scheduling
program.

On-Site Training Guarantee

BER is not a booking agency that just finds a presenter who presents on the topic you requested. Rather, we only recommend highly experienced BER presenters who have consistently received outstanding evaluations from educators attending their trainings.

Consequently, we provide a strong program guarantee.

We guarantee you’ll be fully satisfied or you’ll owe us nothing after your on-site training event.